Dance Theatre Spring Concert Opens during National Dance Week

The Illinois State University Dance Theatre Spring Dance Concert opens on Thursday, April 28, with a performance at 7 p.m. in the Center for the Performing Arts. Show times are 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 30, and 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Set in the midst of National Dance Week, the concert features performances by members of Illinois State Dance Theatre and works choreographed by faculty members Greg Merriman, Jessica Riss-Waltrip, Sara Semonis and Darby Wilde.  Riss-Waltrip is also an Illinois State alumna. Student choreographers are Anthony Gannaway and Bonnie Christine Willis. The student pieces were selected to represent the University at the American College Dance Festival, Central Region Conference. 

Guest choreographer, Santo Scavuzzo III, current company member with the Chicago-based Same Planet Different World and Illinois State alumnus, has set a new work on Dance Theatre called Somber is my Love for you. 

Scavuzzo holds a master of fine arts in dance performance from the University of Iowa and a bachelor of science in dance performance and French from Illinois State, where he studied under the direction of Laurie Merriman. Scavuzzo's passion for dance began in high school, but was nurtured and developed while dancing for Illinois State Dance Theatre, the impetus for his educational and professional dance career.